http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=6171704&nav=HMO6

State officials get first-hand look at border issues

March 2, 2007 08:50 PM PST
Ed Tribble reports

The state capitol is about 180 miles from Nogales.

It's not a very long drive, but when it comes to border issues, lawmakers say sometimes it seems very far away.

Friday, several state legislators took a tour of the border to get a better understanding of its issues.

"When we're in Phoenix we don't always grasp different circumstances along the border, and hosting this tour, I wanted myself and members to gain a greater understanding of what these communities are actually facing," says Arizona Senate President Tim Bee.

To get a better idea, about a dozen lawmakers, along with other state leaders took a tour of the border, a detention center, and the Mariposa Port of Entry.

"There were very interesting statistics and things we have to take into consideration as we proceed with making laws in Arizona," Bee says.

Throughout the day they talked with local leaders from several communities all along the border.

They discussed issues important to them like traffic issues, business opportunities and border security.

"So they could see what's happening at the border so they could see the border is about commerce and about interdiction of drugs and interdiction of illegal aliens entering the country," says State Rep. Jennifer Burns.

And at the end of the day, a bus takes these lawmakers and their new knowledge back to Phoenix.

"Tremendous opportunities to interact with elected officials and law enforcement federal and state," Bee says.

Both the lawmakers and the local leaders said they thought it was a positive experience.

And what they learned Friday can help shape new laws.